Data Collection Order: A Primer.
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Assessing the validity of research data and replicating the research study are critical steps towards clinicians’ confidence in and application of research findings. An important methods consideration—data collection order—affects both validation and replication of research data. Whenever using two or more measures, or methods (i.e. qualitative and quantitative), for data collection, researchers must carefully consider and document the order in which data are collected 1. Yet, a search of the literature indicates that few researchers indicate the order in which their data were collected, and even fewer explain their rationale behind the order selected. Neophyte researchers may not be fully aware of the issues involved in data collection order, while experienced researchers may argue that data collection order considerations are intuitive, eliminating the need to document the order used or the rationale for it. Clearly each data collection order choice involves an informed decision regarding its pros and cons, and there is no single correct answer for every research situation.
Therefore the process of how researchers determine their specific data collection order, whether intuitive or not, needs to be addressed. The main purpose of this methodological article is to describe issues to consider in determining data collection order. We also will examine potential threats to validity that may arise relative to the order selected. We intend it to be a primer in data collection order decisions for neophyte researchers, and a review and reminder for more experienced researchers. First we will present issues to consider. This will be followed by a brief discussion of the specific threats to validity that data collection order may engender. We emphasize examples of mixed methods studies, as the more diverse the data collection approaches are, the more the order of collection may matter. Furthermore, this genre of research has been least discussed in relation to data collection order. For the purposes of this article, mixed methods research is defined as the integration of quantitative and qualitative paradigms to explore the research aims 2
Source: PubMed
Authors: T Deshefy-Longhi, S Sullivan-Bolyai, J K Dixon
Institution: Duke University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W146428840